Biomass gasification with negative carbon emission through innovative CO2 capture and utilisation and integration with energy storage

Project Information

BIOMASS-CCU

Grant agreement ID: 823745

DOI

10.3030/823745

Project closed

EC signature date 4 October 2018

Start date 1 January 2019

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 995 716,00

EU contribution

€ 846 400,00

Coordinated by

THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BIOMASS-CCU (Biomass gasification with negative carbon emission through innovative CO2 capture and utilisation and integration with energy storage)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) causes serious challenges to the climate and to the sustainable development of modern society. To realise a low carbon future, the EU has issued legislation including the 2020 Climate & Energy package, which sets a key target for 20% of EU energy from renewables. The use of biomass in the heat and power sectors will promote a low carbon economy. However, the deployment of biomass gasification is slow as it still has key challenges such as high costs with economic risks, inefficient use of surplus heat, syngas cleaning and upgrading, as well as the uncertainty of CO2 saving.

The project will promote the development and deployment of negative carbon technology for the future energy system. This will contribute to the mitigation of climate change in relation to controlling the emission of CO2. The impact on society can be indicated by the level and number of public engagement (e.g. visiting of project website, attendance of policymakers and regulators in the organised workshops and conference symposium, and the numbers of news reports in social media.

The project aims to develop and maintain long-term collaborations between universities in the European Union with China and Australia. The collaboration is centred on the goal of beyond the current state-of-the-art of biomass gasification through staff exchanges with world-leading researchers in gasification process engineering, catalysis, in-situ CO2 capture, non-thermal plasma, energy storage, life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis. Overall, progress towards the objectives of each WP is satisfactory. The objectives of biomass gasification, catalysis and in-situ CO2 capture have been completed. Objectives of energy storage, life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis are well progressing and we are confident that they will be completed in a timely manner.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

A few important review papers have been produced in relation to biomass gasification (WP1 and 3), such as Energy Convers Manage. 2023;276:116496. Extensive experimental computational work has been carried out to enhance biomass gasification efficiency (WP1, WP2 and WP4). For example, Fe/olivine as primary catalyst was developed in the biomass steam gasification in a fountain confined spouted bed reactor, and pyrolysis temperature can be manipulated to improve the in-line steam reforming catalyst activity and stability. In addition, a novel concept about producing ultra low CO2 emissions from biomass gasification by integrating gasification with insitu CO2 capture and utilisation. Several key papers about developing simple and robust CaO-based adsorbents and catalysts have been reported during the period of the project (WP2 and WP3) (figures attached), potentially promoting the development and deployment of carbon capture technologies. Furthermore, mechanisms of CO2 capture and utilisation have also been extensively investigated. For example, a synergy of plasma chemistry and thermochemistry was investigated to boost the conversion of CO2 with biochar to clean CO in an atmospheric plasmatron. Process efficiency has been enhanced by optimising process conditions (e.g. steam addition) and carrying out techno-economic analysis (WP5). For example, three promising CO2 removal technologies (absorption by MEA solvent, cryogenic distillation, Ca-looping) were simulated and compared on the basis of efficiency, capital and operating expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX). Due to the high energy demand of cooling, the highest OPEX was observed in cryogenic distillation. Based on the results, it was found that the best available technology for CO2 removal of biomass-based syngas is the absorption using MEA sorbent. The two feasible options are the MEA based absorption and Ca-looping, which applications are based on the optimal pyrolysis condition, including temperature and flue gas logistics.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

WP1 Biomass gasification: More ongoing activities related to biomass gasification such as heat and energy integration, techno-economic analysis are happening. Different catalysts for biomass gasification and also using non-thermal plasma to promote tar reduction during biomass gasification have been carried out.
WP3 In-situ CO2 capture and conversion: Long-term stability test of the optimised catalysts/materials and process modelling of CO2 capture and conversion have been processed.
WP4 Energy efficiency enhancement: Models for biomass gasification with different heating exchange scenarios and thermochemical storage technology based on the reaction between CaO and CO2 have been developed.
WP5 Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment: Techno-economic analysis of biomass gasification integrating with CO2 capture and utilisation and energy and energy storage have been processed
WP6 Dissemination, exploitation, and communication: We organised and initiated International Conference on Carbon Capture Science and Technology (CCST), which will be an annual conference. Conferences and events related to International Association for Carbon Capture (IACC) have also been organised. IACC activities will be sustained after the completion of the project.
WP7 Project management: Key issues such as WP implementation, secondment, events, and financial aspects have been regularly discussed among project partners, in addition to new project applications (e.g. EU MSCA DN and Fellowship).

For scientific impact: So far, we have published around 70 academic papers with the standard of EU due to open Access requirements and the embargo period of journals. The published journals include Carbon Capture Science and Technology, Fuel, Separation Purification Technology, Chemical Communications, Energies and Catalysts. These journals are recognized by peers and have high academic impacts. The EU RISE funding is mentioned in the acknowledgement section of these papers, which plays an important role in publicity.

For economy and skills training impact: Current research advances show positive value for improving the industrial economy with high energy efficiency which can support job creation and promote the EU economy in the renewable energy sector. Based on relevant strategic decisions and policy formulation by EU policymakers and regulators, the project can expand skills training in the field of bioenergy.

For environment and society impact: The above academic studies aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions can have a positive impact on addressing climate change. For social impact, the project website has been visited thousands of times to improve the awareness of developing low-carbon technologies. A new charity organisation, International Association for Carbon Capture has been developed to promote environmental and society impact.

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